When the Detroit Red Wings made Michael Rasmussen the ninth overall selection of the 2017 NHL entry draft, many hockey people cringed. They didn’t see the chance that Rasmussen would be developing into an elite NHL performer worthy of a top-10 selection on draft day.

Over eight years later, it’s hard to make a case that this wasn’t the correct assessment of Rasmussen’s hockey future.

Rasmussen’s fingerprints were all over Detroit’s 4-2 defeat in Buffalo on Wednesday. He took a lazy offensive-zone penalty in the third period with the score tied 2-2. Instead of moving his legs, Rasmussen lunged for a loose puck in front of the Sabres’ net. His stick got into the legs of Sabres forward Tyson Kozak, sending him sprawling and earning a tripping penalty.

Jack Quinn would score the eventual game-winning goal on the ensuing power play.

Rasmussen’s Value To Red Wings Is Eroding

In seven games this season, Rasmussen has one goal and one assist. Both came on empty-net goals in a 4-1 win over Florida. In fact, Rasmussen has scored 27.02% of his last 37 goals (10 of 37) into empty nets. He’s minus-one on a team that is 5-2 on the season.

His SAT percentage of 50.3% is 14th on the team. Rasmussen’s on-ice goals-for percentage of 20% is better than just three of his teammates.

I have one question for Michael Rasmussen: pic.twitter.com/00RP8UySim

— 🎃🕸️🔪(Spooky) 〽️ario🔪🕸️🎃 |#BLM (@NotLuigi89) October 23, 2025

The 6-foot-6, 222-pound Rasmussen is a big player who doesn’t play big. He averages 6.6 hits per 60 minutes. Compare that to 6-1, 204-pound rookie Michael Brandsegg-Nygard’s per-game pace of 13.5 hits. He’s a big player who does pay big.

Rasmussen rarely wins puck battles. And while there’s no quantitative stat to back up this analysis, does any Red Wings player fall more often in a game than Rasmussen?

To his credit, Ramussmen does lead Detroit forwards with 5.18 shot blocks per game. We’ll give him that. But is that enough to warrant keeping him in the lineup going forward?

Filling A Diminished Role

In the past, Detroit Hockey Now has gone to bat for Rasmussen against his many detractors. Following his 13-goal, 33-point campaign in 2023-24, we stated a case for his value to the Wings. No, he wasn’t a star worthy of the ninth overall selection on draft day. Still, he was a valuable role player capable of playing at various positions throughout the lineup.

That was then. This is now. Rasmussen is no longer that player, and hasn’t been that player in quite some time.

The Red Wings appear to be recognizing this reality. His ice time is down this season. Rasmussen’s 11:35 minutes per game is lower than that of all players except Elmer Soderblom.

Rasmussen is signed through the 2027-028 season at an AAV of $3.2 million. As more prospects move into the Red Wings lineup, though, the chances that he can maintain his place in the squad will diminish greatly.

The Rasmussen experiment has clearly run its course. If it’s not already here, the time for the Red Wings to be moving on from him is coming soon.